Automobile license plate



May 13, 1930. w. s. swElTzER AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE Filed Sept. 6; 1929 Fatented May 13g 193@ Ultllf@ STATES PATENT GFFQEL AUTOMOBLE 'LCENSE PLATE Application filed September 6, 1929. Serial No. 390,725.

T he invention generally has for its object to provide a novel automobile license plate structure comprising a license tag proper which is formed of paper, light paste board or other flexible 'material having the quality of carrying the customary identification indicia and of being readily rolled up to facilitate shipment, and means to support and encase the tag proper, dust and water proof, and in l0 a manner assuring a neat and ornamental display thereof.

In its more detailed nature the invention resides in the provision of a flexible tag proper bearing the customary identification indicia, a stiff-bodied frame plate having a depression to receive the tag and a transparent Window sheet through which the indicia borne by the tag may be displayed, the depression serving to provide a surrounding flange approximately flush With the outer face of the window sheet, a gasket bearing against the fiange and overlying the Window sheet, a clamp ring, and means to securely clamp the ring to the flange With the gasket between them to seal the depression against ingress of foreign matter.

@ther objects Will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of theaforesaid objects and ends, the invention further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of Which will be first fully described in the following detailed description then be particularly pointed out in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a face view.

Figure 2 isa Cross section taken on line 2-2 on Figure 1.

In the drawing 10 designates the license tag proper Which includes the usual identifying indicia 11. This tag is formed of paper, light pasteboard or any other suitable flexible material so that it can be manufactured at a minimum expense and shipped economically and with ease.

In order to support the tag rigidly and in a manner assuring neat and pleasing appear ance, and also to seal it against dust and Water or other undesirable foreign matter7 I provide a rigid frame plate 12 shaped to form a central depression 13 large enough to receive the tag 10, and a surrounding flange 14 which is reinforced by bending the plate edges back upon themselves as indicated at 15 in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The depression 13 is deep enough to receive the tag 10 and also a transparent Window 16 of glass, Celluloid or the like through which the face of the tag Will be displayed and by Which it will be protect-ed from scratches or other mars and from direct contact with road dirt and splashings.

The upper or outermost face of the Window plate preferably lies on a plane approximately coincident with the corresponding face of the fiange 14: to assure tight engagement of the ring gasket 17 which bears upon the flange and extends inwardly a distance sufficient to overlie the outer edges of the Window plate so that When the clamp ring 18 is secured upon the flange by the bolts 19 the gasket Will be forced tightly against the flange and the Window plate edges to eiectively seal the depression.

The ring 18 is substantially semi-circular in cross section and thereby provides two annular spring edges 2O which grip the gasket adjacent its edges and form particularly eifective sealing mediums. it will be observed that one of these edges overlies the flange While the other overlies the edges of the Window plate 16. The ring 18 having a certain degree of yield under clamping urge of the bolt-s 19, a secure clamping of the Window plate edges is assured through the entire extent of the clamp ring.

From the foregoing descriptionn taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought that the novel details of construction, the manner of use and the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

l claim:

A license plate comprising a license tagl` a transparent Window overlying the tag, a support plate having a depression to receive the tag and Window plate and having a surrounding flange7 a gasket ringl on the flange and overlying the outer edges of the Window plate,

a, Clamp ring, and means to secure the clamp ring to the flange With the gasket ring between, said clamp ring being. semi-Circular n cross section whereby to provide inner and outer clamping edges one of which overles the ange, and the other of which overles the outer edges of the Window plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atX my signature.

W. S. SVVEITZER. 

